Power: Champion trainer Mark Purdon has 4 runners entered for the Gr.1 $750,000 New Zealand Cup
It’s back.
The new 2016/17 season of Grand Circuit racing for Australian Pacing Gold is ready to kick off next week (Tuesday) in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Last season, elite performers Lennytheshark and Smolda couldn’t be split with both pacers amassing the same amount of points following the eight leg series.
Will we have another deadheat this season or will there be a decisive winner?
Traditionally, the Grand Circuit always commenced at Albion Park in Brisbane but state officials have opted for a change, therefore the action now moves across the ditch.
The Australian Pacers Grand Circuit began in 1977 and was designed to be the showpiece of the Australian Harness Racing Industry with horses competing from every State within Australia.
In 1992 New Zealand was admitted and the Circuit was renamed the Australasian Grand Circuit. The best horses available are brought together to race for very attractive prizemoney.
With the associated opportunities for promotion and marketing, this benefits owners and harness racing clubs as well as the industry overall.
In its first season in 1977, total prizemoney for the eight races forming the Circuit was $554,020.
It’s fair to say, the increase in prizemoney has moved with the times, the seven leg circuit now in excess of $4 million.
The Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup carries prizemoney of $750,000 – easily the richest harness event staged in the Shaky Isles.
A quality line-up will take their place in the 3200m stand-start feature, a capacity sized field of 15 runners will do battle with an emergency also drawn.
And the dominant forces of the All Stars stable are to the fore.
The famous livery of blue with silver stars will easily be viewed, the stable will send out four runners and three of those runners sit at the top of betting markets.
Brilliant four-year-old Lazarus, sporting the black Lone Star silks of his co-owner Trevor Casey is the commanding favourite while proven Grand Circuit performers Smolda and Have Faith In Me occupy the next two positions in betting.
Lazarus, a winner of 17 from 20 starts to date including five at Gr.1 level has been outstanding in his build-up for the Cup which includes victories in the Canterbury Classic followed by the Ashburton Flying Stakes at his most recent start on October 24.
The Bettors Delight entire pleased co-trainer and regular driver Mark Purdon in the official Cup trial at Addington on Wednesday when finishing second behind his stablemate Have Faith In Me in the 2600m workout.
He has drawn perfectly in gate five.
The last four-year-old to win the Cup was Terror To Love back in 2011 while it’s likely he could start the shortest priced favourite in the modern era.
And as good as Lazarus was in the workout, the effort of Have Faith In Me clearly restored confidence in the camp as he attempts to conquer his Achilles heel, the stand-start.
The Miracle Mile winner is winless in his three starts to date this campaign and while the efforts have been excellent, his inability to step safely is of great concern.
With the addition of bloomers to his gear in the Cup trial, the fastest pacer in Australasia stepped cleanly before scoring in stylish fashion over his stablemate.
Driver Natalie Rasmussen is hopeful he keen make another clean start again on Tuesday despite remaining on the unruly, the outside of the back-line.
Smolda, the reigning co-winner of the APG Grand Circuit from last season is looking to go one better in the Cup this year.
The veteran gelding was responsible for a miraculous effort when a runner-up behind the Australian trained and one time stablemate Arden Rooney.
With four runs under his hat going into this year’s Cup, the Courage Under Fire lost few admirers with his typically gutsy effort in the Kaikoura Cup when second Franco Nelson at his most recent start.
Again, Tim Williams will take the drive and they will start from gate three.
Emerging talent Titan Banner also represents the All Stars stable and deserves respect following his stunning victory in the Winter Cup back in May defeating Christen Me.
Proven performer at this distance and will be handled by Blair Orange.
The combination of Franco Nelson and John Dunn has proven to be, in some ways, the surprise packet of the spring owing to his victories in the Hannon Memorial, New Brighton and Kaikoura Cups.
Blessed with enormous potential but cursed with injury setbacks throughout his career, the son of a previous Cup hero in Christian Cullen commands plenty of respect yet again.
On Tuesday, this will be his third start in the Cup after finishing 4th last year while being a runner-up behind freak mare Adore Me two years ago.
Double millionaire Christen Me is also aiming for another shot at Cup glory, the Cran Dalgety trainee is lining up for his third attempt in the great race.
The highly decorated pacer hasn’t won in his past seven starts but he hasn’t been far away at his past couple and has the services of champion reinsman Dexter Dunn so will carry support.
Another pacer taking on the Cup for the third time is Tiger Tara, the Geoff Dunn trained star has finished 6th in the two previous editions.
A winner of the Show Day FFA last season, Tiger Tara has battled niggling issues this campaign but can’t be dismissed.
Australian bred pacer Messini returns for another shot at Cup glory after finishing an unlucky fifth last year behind Arden Rooney when prepared by the All Stars stable.
This year, he runs under the banner of former Canterbury but now Victorian based horseman Brent Lilley.
Those that are priced at big odds for the Cup include Seel The Deal, Quick As A Trick, Brilliant Strike, Moonrock, No Doctor Needed, Mighty Flying Mac and Mossdale Conner.
As always, the New Zealand Cup will be a classic but who strikes first in the new APG Grand Circuit season?
